JAN VERTONGHEN has refused to reveal why he won't sign a new contract with Tottenham.

The Belgian defender was thought to be holding discussions over a new deal at White Hart Lane after being linked with a possible move away over the summer.

Vertonghen is on record as saying he wants to play in the Champions League at this stage of his career, but it is not clear why contract talks have broken down.

The former Ajax man insists that despite the impasse he is happy to remain at Spurs.

He said: “I am not signing. No. We agreed not to.

"I would prefer not to say why. I still have four years left. I am happy at the club and I think they are happy with me. That’s where it ends.

"I am very happy, we have a good manager, we have a good team and a lot of good players.

"The squad is very big and you have to work hard to play every game, and I hope I am playing again soon.

“It is good [under Pochettino]. He is working well with a lot of videos and individually he talks a lot with the players.

"He is a manager who expects a lot from players. We work hard and that is good — it will pay off in the end.”

I would prefer not to say why. I still have four years left.

Jan Vertonghen

Vertonghen was on the bench for Spurs loss to West Brom last week before starting in the Capital One Cup victory over Nottingham Forest yesterday and hinted that increased competition for places was a concern.

He added: “I want to play in the biggest games.

“That is what you are a footballer for. We have a lot of centre-backs now with [Federico] Fazio, with Eric Dier, who is doing very well.

"Obviously Vlad [Chiriches] and Younes [Kaboul] played at the weekend and we are fighting for two places with those guys.

"Everyone has to be just that little bit better so that the manager chooses them.”